Air propelled car



w 330 13.. E. c. JUERGENS AIR PROPELLED CAR Filed Feb. 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l pxrfifi m, We E. c. JUERGEN$ u999,296v

AIR PROPELLED CAR Filed Feb. 16, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30 1935. 5 c, JuERGENs v 11,9@,9

' AIR PROPELLED CAR Filed Feb. 16, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 O O O 0 22222 lllllllll In ventor E (Y rfiw r ens A Home y Patented Apr. 30, 1935 l'lE stars meant Am Pnornmnn cAn Edwin C. Juergens, Detroit, Mich, assignor of three hundred and sixty-six one-thousandths William Goldsmith, Canton, Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio,

David J. and Charles .D.

Jacobson, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 16, 1932, Serial No. 593,363

18 Claims.

My invention relates generally to motor vehicles, particularly to a car driven by a motor drivenair propeller mounted thereon.

It is an important object of my invention to provide an air propeller driven car of the type described which embodies novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby efilciency and economy of operation is brought about.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide a novel body formation and a novel mounting of the motive power means including the air propeller.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide a structure of the type described embod dug a new and novel manner of incorporating the air propeller and its motor, and accommodating the formation of the body so as to deflect the air stream of the propeller upwardly and over the body of the car.

It also an important object of my invention to provide in device of the character described above an adjustable pitch air propeller having reversible blades, the adjustment and reversing of the propeller blades being accomplished with a single lever arrangement.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the drawings wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

- the drawings:-

ure 1 is a l ngitudinal vertical sectional view ally through a preferred embodiment of the int n' .on, and taken approximately on the line E of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

ure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

ure 3 is a front end elevational View. .gure i is a transverse vertical sectional view t n approximately on the line 5- of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

lg. 5 sec onal view taken on the line 5-5, l the shape of the forward portion s the screen across the top and lye parts for adjustably controlling the :I' in detail to the drawings wherein relate to like parts throughout-the tl; numeral 5 refers generally to the body ".;e which is combinedpassenger -nent and chassis. The rear- 0'. the body may be of generally but the forward portion has --aped indentation, resulting in the forwardly diverging angular panels 1 and 8 which are slanted upwardly and rearwardly. As indicated by the numeral to the rearward edges of the panels 7, 8 meet and constitute the vertex of the v-shaped indentation. The forward edges of the panels l, 8 are arranged near the sides of the body 5. The panels "i, 8 extend downwardly and. forwardly to the bottom of the body to form a wind scoop and conveyor. The panels also define forwardly thereof a compartment generally designated 9 wherein is carried the inverted motor. or engine It operatively connected with the reversible and adjustable propeller H. A reticulated drum generally designated l2 extends transversely and vertically of the motor compartment 9 and forwardly of the motor or engine Hl as seen in Figure 1 and encloses the propeller it. Immediately forward of the reticulated propeller drum i2 is a pair of radiators it; Hi carried one on each side of the body so as to aiford a wide space thcrebetween. It is to be noted that the motor compartment 5 is connected with the compartment within the front reticulated drum l2 andin which the propeller l l is located, the compartmentwithin the front reticulated drum l2 extending approximately to a point above the axle l8,v as disclosed in Fig. 1 and as indicated by the numeral iii in Fig. 2.

The forward end of the chassis frame 2i has a kick-up as indicated at E6, and the front fenders ll extend forwardly over the wheels i9. Extending adjacent of the kick-up i6 are the usual front springs ll mounted for carrying the axle M3 to accommodate conventionally mounted steerable wheels I 9. The rear portion of the chassis frame indicated at 2% is upset as indicated at 2 to whereby to mount in the correct low-slung manner the rearaxle 22 which is carried on the usual springs 23. As seen in Figure I the rear end of the body may depend as indicated at 24 so as to partly cover the rear springs and their appurtenances. The bottom of thebody 5 follows generally the contour of the chassis frame. A rear seat 25 may be mounted directly upon the upset portion 2t, while the front seat 26 is mounted directly to the rear of the panels '5, 8 which are provided with windows 2?. A suitable door opening as indicated at 28 may be provided in the side of the body for access to the passenger compartment.

A horizontal screen 29 extends on a level above the motor it between the reticulated drum and the panels l, 8.

The reticulated drum l2 enclosing the propeller consists of a ring 3| having a reticulated screen 32 secured across and to its front edge and leading downwardly and forwardly to the point designated i 5 in Figure 2 and to a point apporxirnately above the axle i8 as disclosed in Figure 1. The upper part of the rear edge of the ring 3| has secured thereto and thereacross a reticulated screen 38 whose lower edge joins the forward end of the horizontal screen 23 which covers the motor compartment.

The wind resulting from the forward movement of the car and passing between and through the radiators i3, i4, and the air stream of the propeller ll, will, be deflected and carried upwardly by the panels '1 and 8, forming the V- shaped scoop or conveyor, and over the car so as to reduce substantially the retardation effects which the combined wind and propeller air stream would otherwise have upon forward motion of the car. The entire body is of stream line construction so as to reduce as much as possible wind resistance consequent upon forward motion of the car.

The inclined wall section indicated at 32a in Fig. 1 is taken through the portion of the wall at the vertex of the panels l and 8 between the windows 2?, the inclined wall section 32a also being taken through the portion of the wall of the Vertex of the body portions which form the solid portions of the panels I and 8 below the windows 21, the panels 1 and 8 converging inwardly to form a trough, said panels I and 8 continuing downwardly and gradually blending into the wall portion 33a which further forms a closed bottom wall of the compartment 9, for enclosing the motor H), and the drum 52, thus effectively guiding and. controlling the flow of air through the drum l2 and the compartment 9 from passing under or through the body 5, the flow of air thus being guided to flow upwardly over the closed bottom wall of the compartment 9 and the drum l2 and over the panels 1' and 8 together with the windows 2'! to the point 34 and thus over the top of the body 5, the flowing air being delivered in a wedge shaped mass to the upper wall or top surface of the body 5..

It is to be noted that my invention will reduce the usual retardation effects caused by the usual resistance of the rush of air against the conventional or substantially upright frontal surfaces of a vehicle body because the rush of air will be controlled to flow gradually upwardly thus resulting in a substantially reduced horizontal air thrust component on the body 5 as compared with a direct air thrust against the substantially straight or vertical frontal surface of a moving body. This reduced horizontal air thrust against the body 5 in my invention not only reduces'the usual air resistance but is necessary to effectively control the increased thrust of air which is occasioned by driving a vehicle by an air propeller. Also the inclined-positions of the panels 1 and 8 make it possible to control and maintain the body of flowing air in a wedge shaped mass to pre vent said air from being forced off and around the sides of the body 5 which would render the vehicle impractical because of the disturbance of the dust, etc.

Though I do not desire to limit myself specifically to' such, I prefer to employ an airplane typeof motor, preferably the inverted air cooled type. This permits mounting the motor and the propeller upon aircraft type supports 35. The propeller is of the tractor type.

The propeller H is of a suitable adjustable pitch reversible type, controllable as to pitch and reversal by a suitable arrangement such as hand lever 36 mounted within reach of the operator of the car and connected by means of pable of having a neutral disposition in which to a slidable element 33 the propeller is operatively disconnected from the motor shaft.

As will be recognized from the drawings, the

motor iii is of the inverted air cooled type, or

may be of a suitable type to fit properly within the motor compartment and to be partly cooled by the air stream of the propeller.

The motor ill is supported by the members 35 which are suitably supported on the chassis and extend upwardly from their supported ends to connect with the motor I t.

The entire construction is such that light weight is achieved, together with stability and rigidity of structure. Obviously, less power is required to move a car constructed in the manner described than is required for conventional structures of this general nature. It will also be observed that vwhere traction is a disadvantage rather than an essential as in the case of conventional motor vehicles, and this makes for economy of power required for propelling the same. A corresponding reduction in the size of power plant, with consequent reduction in fuel consumption and operating costs, is consequent upon the arrangements described above.

It will be observed that the maximum of vision for the operator of the car and the passengers is provided by the construction described.

It is believed to be obvious that the ordinarily essential features such as brakes, clutch transmissions, rear axles, differentials, and the like conventional appurtenances are not only not required, but are specifically done away with in my improved air propelled car. It will also be obvious that it will only be necessary to change the pitch of the blades of the propeller H for attaining different speeds with varying loads, and

at varying engine speeds, so as to obtain the maximum speed and pulling power and provide for operating the car with the maximum economy of fuel It will only be necessary to reverse the blades of the propeller without reversing the engine, to back up the car, theentire control of the propeller for these purposes being vested in the single hand lever 36.

The structure of the mechanism for adjustably controlling the operation of the blades of the propeller l i. is similar to the propeller adjustable mechanism disclosed and described in the U. S.

patent forScrew propeller, issued on March 10, 1908 to R. E. Coon, Patent No. 881,775.

What is claimed is:-

1. In an air propelled car, the combination of a passenger compartment provided with a frontal surface having a V-shaped wall portion, amotor compartment forward of said passenger compartment, a propeller housing at the forward portion of said motor compartment, said propeller housing and said motor compartment having a common lower wall portion extending upwardly to blend into the V-shaped wall portion of said passenger compartment, 2. motor suitably mounted in said motor compartment, and a tractor air propeller rotatably mounted in said propeller housing for propelling the car, tractor air propeller being operatively connected with said motor, said tractor air propeller pro ducing a flow of air against said V-shaped wall portion, said V-shaped wall portionguiding said flow of air together with the flow of air developed compartment provide by the forward motion of the car upwardly and over the top surface of said passenger compartmerit.

2, In an air propelled car, the combination of a motor compartment, a propeller compartment, a motor su' mounted in said motor compartment, a propeller rotatably mounted in said motor compartment, said propeller being operatively connected with said motor, a passenger with V-shaped wall portions forming a trough for guiding a flow of air from said. propeller upwardly and over the top of said passenger compartment, and means for varying the pitch of the blades ofsaid propeller to change or reverse the pulling power of said propeller.

3. In an air propelled vehicle comprising a chassis and a body having wall portions, the combination of a tractor propeller on the chassis and enclosed by said wall portions of said body, a motor operatively connected with and for driving said tractor propeller, means for controlling the driving connection between motor and said tractor propeller, and scoop means formed by wall portions, said wall portions extending from a point adjacent the bottom of said tractor propeller and upwardly to the top of the vehicle, said scoop moans receiving and conducting the combined air stream of the propeller and wind resulting from the forward motion of the car upwardly to the top of the vehicle.

4. An air propelled car of the type described comprising a chassis, an enclosed tractor propeller on the chassis, a motor operatively connectible to drive the propeller, controllable operating connection means for connecting the propeller to the motor, and scoop means to the ear of the propeller for receiving, confining, and conducting upwardly over the car the combined air stream of the ropeller and wind resulting from forward motion of the car, said scoop means comprising upwardly and rearwardly leaning sur faces of wall members suitably supported on the chassis, adjacent surfaces of said wall members being related to each other at an angle for forming a trough, said wall members being joined together at the vertex of the angle forming said trough,

5. An air propelled car of the type described comprising a chassis, an enclosed tractor propeller on the chassis, a motor operatively connectlble to drive the propel er, controllable operating connection means for connecting the propeller to the motor, and scoop means to the rear of the propeller for receiving, confining, and conducting upwardly over the car the combined air stream of the propeller and wind resulting from forward motion of the car, said scoop means comprising upwardly and rearwardly leaning surfaces of wall members, adjacent surfaces of said wall members being related to each other at an angle for forming a trough, and a passenger oom-v partinent to the rear of the scoop means, said passenger compartment being closed, at its forward end, by said wall portions of said scoop means.

6. An air propelled car of the type described comprising a chassis together with a body, an enclosed tractor propeller on the chassis, a motor operatively connectible to drive the propeller, con trollable operating connection means for connect ing the propeller to the motor, and scoop means to the rear 01" the propeller for receiving, con fining, and conducting upwardly over the car the combined air steam of the propeller and wind resulting from forward motion of the car, said scoop means comprising upwardlyand rearwardly leaning surfaces of wall portions of said body, adjacent surfaces or" said wall portions related to each other at an angle for forming a trough, said wall portions of said scoop means being extended forwardly of and under motor and propeller to join the wall portions of enclosure of said tractor propeller.

-'7 In a vehicle comprising a chassis, combination of supporting meinberssuitably supported on said chassis and extending upwardly from their supported ends, an engine provided with cylinders, said engine being mounted on supporting members, the cylinders of engine being located at t e lower side of en ine, a propeller suitably mounted on saidengine, the of said propeller beinglocated adjacent the end of the portion of said engine located above its cylinders, said propeller being operatively connected with ei: inc, and a body suitably supported on said chassis, said body being provided with a forward wall portion extending un der and adjacent the lower side of said cylinders of said engine and said propeller to guide the flowin from said propeller upwardly adjacent the sides of said cylinders and over said body.

8. In a vehicle comprising a chassis, the comation of a body suitably mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, said body being provided with a passenger compartment together with a second compartment adjacent said passenger compartment. said body being provided with a dividing wall portion between said passenger and said second compartments, said dividing wall portion being inclined downwardly from the top of said body to the bottom of said body at a point between and under the ends of said secon compartment an engine suitably mounted in said second coin pertinent, and a propeller suitably mounted and operatively connected with said engine, propeller inducing a flow of air adjacent said dividing wall portion of said body.

9. In. a vehicle comprising a chassis, the combination of a body suitably mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, said body being provided with a passenger compartment having bottom and side walls, a second compartment adjacent said passenger compartment, the lower wall of s cond compartment being formed by a continuation of lower closed wall of said passenger compartmerit, said body being provided with a dividing wall member between said passenger and said second compartments, said dividing wall member being inclined downwardly from the top of said body to its lower closed wall, an engine suitably mounted in said second compartment. and a propeller suitably mounted and operatively connected with said engine, said propeller inducing a flow of air adjacent said dividing wall member.

70. In a vehicle, the combination of a passenger compartment provided with a pair of wall members. inclined from the top toward the bottom of said passenger compartment, said pair of wall members being further inclined to each other to form a trough therebetween, and means'for inducing a iiow of air over said body, said members forming a dividing wall between said mounted in said en ine compartment, and a pro-' peller suitably mounted and operatively connected with said engine, said propeller developing a flow of air longitudinally of the trough formed by said pair of wall members of said passenger compar ment.

12. In a vehicle comprising a frame together with front and rear axles, the combination of a body having a lower wall extending over said front and rear axles, said lower wall being proided with upset portions extending upwardlyover said front and rear axles, said body being provided with an inclined wall portion extending from the top of said body to the portion of said lower wall extending between its upset portions over said front and rear axles, a compartment adjacent the front axle and said inclined wall' portion of said body, and means for inducing a flow of air adjacent said inclined wall portion and over the top of said body, said means being suitably mounted in said compartment between said upturned portions of said body.

13. In an air propelled vehicle, the combination of a drum member having its axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, screen members suitably attached to two sides of said drum member, a body having an inclined wall portion extending downwardly from its top to a point under one of said screen members, said one of said screen members being suitably attached to said inclined wall portion or" body, a propeller suitably mounted in said drum member and adapted to induce a flow of air adjacent said inclined wall portion of said body, and means for driving said propeller.

14. In an air propelled vehicle, the combination of a body provided with an inclined wall portion connecting the top and bottom walls of said body, said wall portion comprising a pair of panel members inclined relative to one another to form a trough therebetween, a drum member suitably connected with the lower portion of said body,

said drum member having open ends, an engine suitably mounted adjacent said inclined wall portion, a propeller suitably mounted in said drum member, said propeller inducing a flow of air adjacent said inclined wall portion of said body, said propeller being operatively connected with said engine, and screen members closing the open ends of said drum member, said screen members extending adjacent said engine and said propeller.

15. In an air propelled vehicle, the combination of a propeller suitably mounted, a drum shaped compartment having a solid wall extending around the periphery of said propeller, screen members attached to opposite sides of said drum shaped compartment and extending adjacent the sides of said propeller, a body suitably mounted and having an inclined wall portion extending from the top of said body to connect with the solidwall of said drum shaped compartment at a point below said propeller, said inclined wall being suitably connected with one of said screen members, said inclined wall being provided witha trough portion for receiving and guiding a flow of air from said propeller over said body, and means suitably mounted for driving said'propeller, said means being suitably mounted between one of said screen members and said inclined wall portion of said body.

16. In an air propelled vehicle, the combination of an engine suitably supported by the vehicle, a propeller suitably mounted and operativelyconnccted with said engine, a body suitably mounted adjacent said engine and provided with a bottom wall extending below and beyond said propeller, said body being provided with an inclined wall portion extending from the top of said body to connect with the bottom wall of said body at a point substantially adjacent said propeller, said inclined wall portion extending adjacent said engine, said inclined wall portion being provided with a trough portion for conducting air away from said propeller, a housing member suitably connected with said bottom wall of said body and extending around said propeller, said housing member being provided with open ends, a screen member suitably attached around one of the open ends of said housing member, said screen member extending to and being suitably connected with the portion of said bottom wall of body extending below and beyond said propeller, and a second screen member suitably attached around an open end of said housing member and extending to and being suitably attached to said inclined wall portion of said body, said second screen member extending over said engine.

17. In an propelled vehicle, the combination of an engine suitably supported by said vehicle, a propeller suitably mounted and operatively connected with said engine, a body suitably mounted adjac-ent said engine and provided with an inclined wall portion extending substantially adjacent said engine and adapted to guide a flow of air, induced by said propeller, over said body, said body being further provided with a wall portion suitably connected with said inclined wall portion and'extending under said propeller, a drum member suitably connected with one or more of said wall portions of said body, said drum member extending around the periphery of said propeller, said drum member having a pair of open ends, a screen member suitably attached to said drum member around one of its open ends, said screen member extending from said drum member to one of said wall portions of said body, said screen member being substantially angularly inclined relative to said propeller;

and a second screen member suitably attached to said drum member around the other of the open ends of said drum member, said second screen member being provided with a portion extending substantially parallel with the axis of said propeller, said last mentioned portion of said second mentioned screen extending over said engine and being suitably connected with said inclined wall portion of said body.

18. In an air propelled vehicle, the combination of a body suitably mounted and provided with a pair of wall portions inclined relative to the longitudinal center of the vehicle, said pair of wall portions being further inclined relative to each other to form a trough adapted to guide a flow of air over said body and means for inducing a fiow of air along said trough portion of said body.

EDWIN C. JUERGENS. 

